Operation Midway Blitz: The Economic and Human Costs to Illinois Communities
December 11, 2025
CHICAGO — Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump Administration's deployment of federal agents that began in September, turned Illinois neighborhoods into militarized zones and upended daily life for thousands of residents.
Federal agents carried out mass arrests in the middle of the night, often detaining people with no criminal background– including U.S. citizens. Businesses emptied as workers and customers stayed home in fear, schools saw spikes in absences, and community organizations scrambled to care for families suddenly torn apart. Reporting and data compiled from multiple sources show the scale of the disruption: widespread economic losses and deep lasting fear across communities.
“Operation Midway Blitz turned ordinary life into a risk for thousands of Illinois residents," said Governor JB Pritzker. “Families were afraid to take their kids to school, go to work, or even open their small businesses — all because of a reckless federal operation carried out by President Trump and his cronies. This campaign of intimidation tore communities apart, hurt our economy, and violated the basic rights of people who call Illinois home. Illinois will continue to stand up and fight against these egregious abuses of power and protect the rights of Illinois families.”
Economic Impacts on Businesses and Workers
The federal deployment had immediate and severe consequences for small businesses, especially in immigrant neighborhoods targeted by federal agents. In Illinois alone, immigrant entrepreneurs operate more than 146,000 businesses, creating nearly $3.8 billion in business income. These disruptions compounded existing economic pressures, including higher costs from Trump’s tariffs which continue to inflate prices for goods and materials. The cumulative effect has not only squeezed profit margins and strained businesses owners operating on thin margins, but also harmed thousands of workers, who faced lost wages and income due to fear and uncertainty.
- In Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, which collectively generates $1 billion in annual sales, many businesses reported year-over - year revenue drops up to 50 %.
- Illinois is home to 2.4 million Latinos, who have one of the highest labor force participation rates in the country. Thousands of workers in sectors including restaurants, construction, hospitality, and landscaping stayed home due to fear of detention or had their hours reduced because of lost revenue.
- Reduced economic activity also meant lost revenue for state and local governments, as well as decreased customer flow for supporting businesses and service providers.
National Guard Deployment
As part of the operation, the Trump administration federalized 300 Illinois National Guard troops and 200 Texas troops.
- According to estimates compiled from Senator Dick Durbin’s office, the 60 - day deployment cost $19.4 million — more than $323,000 per day for a mission that was grounded before it ever got underway.
- Independent analysis from the Institute for Policy Studies put total deployment costs from October 4 through November 15 at $12.8 million — approximately $8.15 million for Illinois troops and $4.66 million for Texas troops.
While the state does not directly pay for these federal deployments, the presence of National Guard personnel further illustrates the scale and militarized nature of the operation and underscores the significant resources mobilized to carry it out.
- During the same period, 911 calls in Little Village dropped 21%, highlighting how the operation eroded trust and deterred residents from seeking emergency help.
Human and Social Costs
The human toll of Operation Midway Blitz has been profound.
Schools in affected neighborhoods reported increased absenteeism, as parents kept children home out of fear. Community volunteers organized safe-walk programs to escort children to and from school.
- 38 of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods saw student attendance drop more than the school-wide district since the start of the operation; about 40% of those that saw declines are home to large immigrant or Latino populations.
- On Sept. 29 — the Monday after federal Border Patrol agents marched through downtown — nearly 14,000 students who attend predominantly Latino schools, or about 12% of students, stayed home from school.
Community and faith-based organizations mobilized to support affected families. Illinois Welcoming Centers distributed more than $150,000 in emergency assistance in October alone – nearly matching the previous three months combined.
- Funds covered food, housing, transportation, and legal support for families destabilized by the raids.
Beyond measurable costs, residents reported widespread trauma, including accounts of
- children being zip-tied and detained,
- journalists and faith leaders assaulted,
- peaceful protestors gassed with chemical agents.
These harms have created lasting financial, physical, emotional, and psychological scars in affected communities.